EEOC Settles First GINA Lawsuit

May 25th, 2013 by JBWK

The EEOC has reached a settlement in its first-ever GINA lawsuit.

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Passed in 2008, GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, prohibits employers from basing employment decisions on genetic factors, including an applicant’s family medical history.

The case, which settled for $50,000, involved an employer-mandated physical for a job applicant. The doctor asked questions about the applicant’s family medical history of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and other specific ailments. The applicant wasn’t hired after the company suspected she had carpal tunnel syndrome, which she denied.

The company also agreed to train its employees and post nondiscrimination notices to ensure it wouldn’t happen again.

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